Pressure gas storage container and safety breathing apparatus



3,338,238 SAFETY E. A. WARNCKE PRESSURE GAS STORAGE. CONTAINER AND Aug. 29. 1967 BREATHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fr'nsz Wafincke I BY M ATTOR ZM E. A. WARNCKE 3,338,238 PRESSURE GAS STORAGE CONTAINER AND SAFETY Aug. 29, 1 967 BREATHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1963 Erhsz War'ncK e Aug. 29, 1967 PRESSURE GAS STORAGE CONTAINER AND SAFETY BREATHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, I963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /IIII lI",

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Patented Aug. 29,- 1967 3,338,238 PRESSURE GAS STORAGE CONTAINER AND SAFETY BREATHING APPARATUS Ernst A. Warncke, Lubeck, Germany, assignor to Otto Heinrich Drager, Lubeck, Germany Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,704 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 24, 1962, D 40,620 6 Claims. (Cl. 128142.2)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multicell container for a breathing apparatus distributes the unit gas pressure on the cell walls and provides a housing for a breathing bag and its accessories.

This invention relates to a safety breathing device and, in particular, to .a pressure gas storage container for such device.

Safety breathing apparatuses are, in most cases, provided with a pressure gas storage container, which along with the apparatus itself, is carried by a person. The pressure gas container for high pressure air or oxygen is composed of a light metal, such as aluminum, and is installed in a portable frame along with the other fittings for the device. These devices have the disadvantage in that the pressure gas containers or bottles are relatively heavy. This weight is due to the metal required to make the bottle strong enough to Withstand the high internal gas pressures. This disadvantage particularly applies with respect to the weight required for a pressure gas container since such a container needs a substantially larger amount of pressure gas when used with .a pressure gas apparatus as compared to devices using high pressure oxygen alone.

The object of this invention is to avoid the disadvan-' tages of the heretofore known pressure gas containers for safety breathing devices.

In general, the invention comprises :a block of material forming a housing and having cell-like hollow spaces which communicate with one another. The housing block is made of a synthetic material, a light metal or the like. The advantage gained in this invention is that the walls of the pressure gas housing or block can be made substantially thinner as the surface load or the pressure on the walls is quite low.

Another feature of this invention lies in that the celllike hollow spaces or compartments are given such a size or -a wall surface area that when they are positioned adjacent the circumference of the housing they are subject to less wall pressure loads than the compartments adjacent the center of the housing. Accordingly, the compartments adjacent the center of the housing can be larger in volume than those lying adjacent the periphery of the housing. This type of construction has certain advantages. First, the partitions forming the compartments adjacent the center of the housing are not subjected to any differential gas pressure since they are under the same pressure on all sides. These partitions are relatively thin as they are only essentially subject to tension in resisting the outward gas pressure on the circumferential wall of the housing. Moreover, when the compartments lyin-g adjacent the circumference of the housing are of small volume, the stresses on each unit of Wall surface are small. Accordingly, the advantage is obtained of making pressure gas containers of synthetic material and charging them with relatively high gas pressures. Because of the compartmented structure, the exterior walls of the housing are tied together by the partitions to resist the gas pressure on the outer walls.

Other advantages result, in turn, in that the container does not have to be in the customary form of a sphere, a cylinder, or the like. According to this invention, the pressure gas container can have other forms. For example, the pressure gas container can be shaped to conform to the body of a user of the container.

Again, the pressure gas container can be provided with large pockets into which various fittings of the apparatus can be inserted, such as the gas reducing valve, lung control valve, manometer, and the like. This avoids the'need for a separate container. These pockets are provided with screws, spring clips, bayonet joint connections and the like for securing the inserted fittings.

The pockets containing removable parts, such as a face mask, mouthpiece and breathing tube, are closed by an easily removable cover.

When the apparatus is in the form of a closed breathing system, the housing includes a compartment which will receive a chemical material for absorbing carbon dioxide.

The housing of this invention is also provided on its exterior surface with belt fastening eyes or hooks which are integral with and composed of the same material as the housing.

The pressure gas housing is made in several different ways. For example, it can be composed of several separate members, each of which has compartments and with the compartments aligned in the assembled members. Accordingly, these members can be molded of or otherwise made of synthetic material, light metal, or the like and later assembled into the final container. Thus a desirable and quick fabrication of the composite members is achieved. The individual members can be glued or welded together. Suitable synthetic materials for this invention are polyester resins strengthened with fiber glass, polyamides, polyethylene or the like.

According to another feature of the invention, the pressure gas housing is suurounded by a jacket of another type of material, such as a metal jacket.

The means by which the objects of the invention are obtained are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a container housing according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modified form of container; 7

FIGURE 2a is a similar View of another modified form of container;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a further modified form of container;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a container according to this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view partially cut away of a further form of the container;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view partly in cross-section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view through a further modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the bottle-like container housing 1 is separated by partitions 2 into a plurality of compartments 3 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. Partitions 2 are integral With the housing. Openings 4 in partitions 2 place the compart l g ments in communication with each other. Compartment communicates through passageway 6 in the housing cap 7 with a central passageway 8, the latter extending from the gas entrance opening 9 to the center compartment 10.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 2a, the partitions can be arranged to form different type compartments. In FIG- URE 2, three groups of compartments 11, 12 and 13 extend radially from the center of the housing to form rows of compartments concentric with the center compartment 10. The compartments become smaller in crosssectional area from the center of the housing to the circumference of the housing. The partitions 2 adjacent the center of the housing can be made thinner and of less tensile strength than the outer Wall 14 of the container.

One of the partitions 2 adjacent the center of the housing is extended into a wedge-shaped end piece 15 to form a dovetail joint 16 in the cap 7. This means that the pressure container is assembled from a plurality of members which are later welded together if made of synthetic material. As shown in FIGURE 2, the portion 17 of the triangular partition is used to form a cylindrical compartment 18.

In FIGURE 2a, the compartments 10, 19 and 20 are all of cylindrical shape with diameters which decrease radially outward of the center of the housing. Here again the partitions between compartments 10, 19 and 20 are thinner than the exterior wall 14.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, the cylindrical housing 21 is provided with transverse radially extending partitions 22, as well as with the partitions 23 and 24 which are concentric with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and which are joined to the transverse partitions 22. Furthermore, thecompartments formed by partitions 23 and 24 are sub-divided by transverse circular partitions 25. Likewise, the compartments between partitions 23 and peripheral compartment 26 are further sub-divided by circular ring partitions 27. Openings 28 in the transverse partitions provide for gas communication between the compartments. The compartmented housing thus formed is then enclosed in an outer metal or plastic jacket 29 which encloses a large number of compartments. The pressure exerted upon the jacket 29 in the direction of the arrow 30, FIGURE 4, is exerted on only a small portion of the surface. The pressure at right angles in the direction of the arrow 31 is, because of the numerous compartments, only effective on a small portion of the wall surface.

FIGURE 5 shows a safety breathing apparatus in which the pressure gas container is composed of a housing 32 slightly curved when seen in cross-section. Other details of the safety breathing apparatus are not shown. 0n the housing, however, are belt fastening eyes 33 which are integral with the housing and through which the carrying belt or straps are threaded. Preferably these eyes are made by depressions in the housing which are bridged by crosspieces. Perforations 34 are openings for the exhaled air and breathing tube 35 leads to the face mask. Perforations 34 are omitted when this is a pressure gas container for a closed breathing sys- Housing 32 is partitioned into separate compartments. These partitions are formed depending upon the molding technique used if the container is made of molded pieces.

As shown, the housing 32 is made of an upper member 36 and a lower member 37 with compartments 38 of oval-shaped cross-section in the center of the housing and cylindrical compartments 39 adjacent the outer wall of the housing. These compartments extendparallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Pegs 40 fastened in the partitions in lower member 36 extend into corresponding openings in upper member 36.

The outer ends of these pegs can be pressed fiat in the manner of rivets. Furthermore, pegs 40 can be glued or welded to upper member 36.

The upper and lower members are connected by a joint 41 so that the compartments in the upper and lower members are aligned. This also facilitates the molding of the two members.

Other shapes can be used for the compartments and fo l the housing and the upper and lower members can be made of the same or different sizes, all depending upon the molding technique used. Joint 41 may be a telescoped or lapped joint so that the two members are joined by a large connecting surface.

A container for a closed system breathing apparatus is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 and in which the exhaled air passes through a granular filter for the absorption of the carbon dioxide.

In the center of the container is a compartment 42 for the carbon dioxide absorbing material. On either side of this center compartment are housings 43 and 44 which are sub-divided into compartments for receiving the pressure gas. Alternatively, the positions of thecarbon dioxide absorption material and the pressure gas can be reversed. The container is composed of a synthetic material or a light metal alloy.

In the pressure gas housing, the innermost compartments 45 are of larger cross-sectional area than the outer compartments 46.

The upper wall 47 of compartment 42 has an opening surrounded by a collar 48 to which is fastened the flexible breathing tube 49 which is folded into the pocket 50. This pocket is closed by an easily removable cover 51. Tube 49 has a mouthpiece 52.

The lower ends of housings 43 and 44 are closed by a sealing partition 53 and means are provided for the pipe lines connecting the compartments 45 and 46. A transverse wall 54 is made of metal and bored to form the pipe lines between the individual compartments. This wall is also provided with fittings, such as lung control valve 55 and the gas pressure reducer 56. The latter communicates with the pipe lines or bores in wall 54. Also wall 54 contains a pipe line bore running from the gas pressure reducer 56 to the collar 57. A breathing.

bag 58 is folded into the pocket formed by the cover 59 and is attached to collar 57. This cover protects the breathing bag when not in use. Also, cover 59 is easily removable so that, when the apparatus is used, the cover candbe pulled off and the breathing bag allowed to expan When the housing for the pressure container is made of a material which can be sprayed into a mold, the ar rangement of the partitions forming the compartments is important. When using polyester resins strengthened with fiber glass, individual fiber glass mats, note FIGURE 8, can be stacked into the mold cores for forming the individual compartments 38 and 39 so that a thorough saturation of the fiber glass by the synthetic resin is obtained. This produces a very stable structure. In another form of construction, the individual mold cores for the compartments are surrounded with cords of fiber glass so that the peripheral walls of the housing are anchored to the center portion of the housing. This construction prevents outward bulging of the compartments and a stretching of the synthetic material.

The pressure gas housings shown in the other figures can also be provided with a gas charging valve. In apparatuses using lung-controlled valves, it is not necessary to use a shut-off valve as this would only open during the breathing cycle.

In another form of the invention, the individual come partments are assembled so that only one opening is.

provided at the entrance to the pressure reducer and/ or lung-controlled valve so that this opening can be shut off by a valve positioned within the housing composed of synthetic material. Here again, a gas feed valve would be provided at this point.

While the preferred forms of forming the housing are shown herein, many other forms are possible and which result from the type of technique of fabrication employed, especially molding techniques.

The pressure gas container of this invention has the advantages in weight savings and the ability to be of such form that all the breathing apparatus fittings can be stored in the container without appreciable loss of space. In many instances, the gas pipe passageways can be formed in the housing by means of bores and the like so that no extraneous tubing is necessary. The pressure gas receiving compartments can be arranged to save space according to the final desired shape of the container.

Having now described the means by which the objects of the invention are obtained,

I claim:

1. A pressure gas container as for a portable safety breathing apparatus comprising a housing, integrally formed partitions in said housing forming a plurality of intercommunicating compartments, said compartments nearer the center of said housing having a larger volume than the compartments further from said center for giving the compartments further from said center a lower pressure load per unit of wall area than the compartments nearer said center, said housing being formed from substances selected from the class consisting of synthetic materials and light metals, said housing being curved to form one concave side adapted to fit the body of a user of the container, at least one pocket in said housing, a lung-controlled valve connected to said compartment and positioned in said pocket, a gas reducing valve joined to said lung-controlled valve in said pocket, a breathing 6 tube pocket in said housing, a breathing tube in said breathing tube pocket and communicating with said lungcontrolled valve, and an easily removable cover for said breathing tube pocket.

2. A container as in claim 1, further comprising a carbon dioxide absorption material compartment in said housing communicating with said breathing tube.

3. A container as in claim 2, further comprising at least one belt holding eye integrally formed on the exterior surface of said housing.

4. A container as in claim 3, each eye comprising a depression in the surface of said housing, and a cross piece bridging said depression.

5. A container as in claim 4, said housing comprising a plurality of compartmented members assembled with the respective compartments aligned.

6. A container as in claim 5, further comprising a metal jacket around said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,044,654 7/1962 Creighton 220-3 3,069,042 12/1962 Johnston 220-22 X 3,166,212 1/1965 Resos 220 23.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 891,497 9/1953 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application Dl3709, June 1956.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

W. E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A PRESSURE GAS CONTAINER AS FOR A PORTABLE SAFETY BREATHING APPARATUS COMPRISING A HOUSINS, INTEGRALLY FORMED PARTITIONS IN SAID HOUSING FORMING A PLURALITY OF INTERCOMMUNICATING COMPARTMENTS, SAID COMPARTMENTS NEARER THE CENTER OF SAID HOUSING HAVING A LARGER VOLUME THAN THE COMPARTMENTS FURTHER FROM SAID CENTER FOR GIVING THE COMPARTMENTS FURTHER FROM SAID CENTER A LOWER PRESSURE LOAD PER UNIT OF WALL AREA THAN THE COMPARTMENTS NEARER SAID CENTER, SAID HOUSING BEING FORMED FROM SUBSTANCES SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF SYNTHETIC MATERIALS AND LIGHT METALS, SAID HOUSING BEING CURVED TO 